By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The eight seniors on Conner’s baseball team will be pointing their lives in different directions after graduation. One of them plans to follow his faith and hopes to become a priest in the Roman Catholic Church.
Conner baseball player Josh Ostertag
Josh Ostertag, a senior second baseman and pitcher for the Cougars, has applied with the Diocese of Covington to become a seminarian. If his application is approved by the bishop, he’ll begin his journey by enrolling in the undergraduate program at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy or humanities, seminarians can then enroll in the master’s program to complete the Program of Priestly Formation approved by the Vatican in Rome.
Ostertag, who was also a guard on the Conner varsity basketball team the last two seasons, said he started looking into the priesthood when he was a sophomore.
“It’s not something that most people think about, but it’s really grown on me,” he said. “I was raised by parents who are Catholic and I’ve been a Catholic all my life. I just kind of went through the motions until two or three years ago. I started getting more involved (in my religion) and that really helped me decide.”
Ostertag began talking with priests about their vocations and how they now serve their parish communities. He said Father Michael Hennigen at St. Pius X Parish in Edgewood had a big influence on his decision to apply to for the seminary.
“A lot of young people just see priests at Mass and don’t really know much about the priesthood or about what they do,” Ostertag said. “They think they just say Mass and pray all day by themselves. They do have lives outside of church. I get to see that all the time and it really opens your eyes.”
Making an eight-year commitment just to become a priest is a daunting challenge, but Conner baseball coach Brad Arlinghaus has no doubts that Ostertag can do it.
“He’s a great kid, a great athlete and a great student,” the coach said. “He’s totally dedicated to whatever sport he’s playing and I know he’s dedicated to his studies. I see him having zero problems with his dedication and commitment to the goal of being a priest.”
The Conner baseball team will take a 25-9 record into its game against Covington Catholic in the first round of the 9th Region tournament at 7 p.m. Monday at UC Health Stadium in Florence. Ostertag has played in 31 of the Cougars’ 34 games as a second baseman or pitcher. He has a .250 batting average and 3-0 pitching record with a 2.23 earned run average.
“He doesn’t care where he plays, as long as he’s playing,” Arlinghaus said. “He’s made some key defensive plays and had some key hits. He’s really been a key for us on the mound this year, mostly in relief. He earned a start in the district final and if we win (Monday) he may earn himself another start in the regional tournament.”
In the 33rd District final last Friday, Cooper defeated Conner, 2-1, in extra innings. Ostertag said it was one of the best games he has ever played in and he expects more close contests during this week’s 9th Region tournament.
“It’s really even,” he said of the eight-team regional field. “I think anybody could come out and win our region. You never know what’s going to happen.”
If Conner wins three regional tournament games, Ostertag and his senior teammates will end their careers playing in the state tournament that begins June 8 in Lexington. The last time the Cougars made it that far was 2014.
“We won the regional championship when we were freshmen,” Ostertag said. “Most of us weren’t on varsity then, but we know how excited those guys were when that happened and we want to get a little taste of that ourselves.”
Baseball regional tournaments
9th Region at UC Medical Center Stadium, Florence
Monday
Cooper vs. St. Henry, 10 a.m.
Highlands vs. Beechwood, 1 p.m.
Dixie Heights vs. Newport Central Catholic, 4 p.m.
Covington Catholic vs. Conner, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Semifinal games, 5 and 7 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
10th Region at Harrison County High School
Monday
Nicholas County vs. Brossart, 10:30 a.m.
Clark County vs. Bracken County, 1 p.m.
Mason County vs. Harrison County, 3:30 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Bourbon County, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Semifinal games, 5:30 and 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.
8th Region at Anderson County High School
Monday
Simon Kenton vs. Oldham County, 10 a.m.
Carroll County vs. Collins, 12:30 p.m.
South Oldham vs. Owen County, 3 p.m.
Anderson County vs. Walton-Verona, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Semifinal games, 6 and 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
Softball regional tournaments
9th Region at Veterans Memorial Park, Newport
Monday
Dixie Heights vs. Highlands, 11 a.m.
Conner vs. Holy Cross, 1 p.m.
Boone County vs. Newport Central Catholic, 3 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. St. Henry, 5 p.m.
Tuesday
Semifinal games, 5 and 7 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
10th Region at Clark County High School
Monday
Brossart vs. Mason County, 11 a.m.
Harrison County vs. Montgomery County, 1 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Bracken County, 3 p.m.
Bourbon County vs. Nicholas County, 5 p.m.
Tuesday
Semifinal games, 8 and 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
8th Region at Collins High School
Monday
Collins vs. Owen County, 10 a.m.
Simon Kenton vs. North Oldham, noon
Henry County vs. Anderson County, 2 p.m.
Oldham County vs. Grant County, 4 p.m.
Tuesday
Semifinal games, 5:30 and 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
